Refrigerating apparatus, and oil separator and condenser mechanism therefor.



I B. 8.. McCLELLAN. REFRIGERATJNG APPARATUS, AND OIL SEPARATOR AND CONDENSER MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION mm mac. 23, 1915. RENEWED APR. 19. m7.

Patented Jan.22,1918'.

.BENJAMIN S. IVICCLELLAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS, AND OIL SEPARAIOR AND CONDENSER MECHANISM THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan, 22, I91,

Application filed Decemberi23, 1915, Serial No. 68,375. Renewed April 19, 1917. Serial No. 163,314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN S. Mo- CLELLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Itefrigerating Apparatus, and Oil Separator and Condenser Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

The principal objects of the invention are from the volatile refrigerating fluid, without the necessity of stopping or interrupting the operation of the apparatus and. without requiring the attention or services of a skilled attendant in order to keep the apparatus in operation in an eflicient manner and with the minimum expenditure of time and attention of the operator.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from an examination of the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hercin'described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a refrigerating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and improvements, showing my improved condenser and expansion valve mechanism;

Fig. 2, a detail view in central vertical section of a condenser, provided with means for separatingoil from volatile fluid within the condensing chamber, in accordance with my invention and improvements.

In constructing a refrigerating apparatus in accordance with my invention and improvements, I provide a compressor or pump 1, having a piston or compression chamber 2, and a crank and pitman-containmg chamber or casing 3 mounted upon a suitable support, such as a frame I, which may be ofany desired ordinary, well-known or suitable form. V

An expansion coil or refrigerating coil 5 s arrangedin a suitable coil-containing casmg or receptacle 6, adapted to form a liquidcontaining chamber 7 for containing liquid, such as brine, to be cooled. An outlet or return pipe 8 communicates with the discharge end of the expansion coil and forms a passage which communicates with the inlet and interior of the compression chamber 2.

The piston chamber or compression chamber 2 of the compressor is provided with an outlet pipe or passage 9 leading from the compression side or high pressure side of said chamber and communicating with the interior of a condensing chamber 10 formed within the inner condenser casing 12 of the condenser.

A very desirable improved form of condenser is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and comprises a cylindrical outer cas ing 11 and an inner casing 12 having, preferably, cylindrical side walls of less diameter in crcss-section than the outer casing 11, and being thus adapted to provide an annular space 13 between the inner casing walls 12 and the outer casing wall 11 for containing a cooling liquid. The upper extremity ofthe hollow inner casing 12 is closed by means of a head or end member let, and the lower extremity of said casing is closed by means of a similar lower head or end member 15. The upper extremity of the hollow outer casing is closed by an upper outer head or casing member 16, and the lower extremity of said outer casing is closed by means of a similar lower head or outer bottom casing member 17. (See Fig. 2.)

The interior space or condensing chamber 10, which is inclosed by the inner casing 12 has a gas inlet 9 with which the pipe 9 from the compression chamber of the compressor communciates and is adapted to contain a volatile fluid, such as liquid ammonia. or ammonia in gaseous form, or in process of being condensed and changed from gaseous to liquid form and cooled, to be used for refrigerating purposes, and is provided with a volatile liquid outlet passage leading from said interior condensing chamber 10 and communicating with the receiving port. or

, liquid containing chamber 18 of a pressurecontrolled expansion valve mechanism 19. The volatile fluid or ammonia 1s subject to pressure and to the action of a cooling agent while in the condensing chamber 10, the pressure being applied by the operation of thejcompressor, thus causing a changeof,

state of; said fluid, and condensing and converting the same from gaseous to liquid form. A liquid receptacle or tank maybe interposed between the condenser and the expansion valve and form a part of said outlet passage. Said passage or conduit, when constructed as shown in the drawings is adapted to permit the escape of. liquid ammoniaand to prevent the escape of gas and oil through the passage, and comprises an interior pipe or tube portion 20, which projects upwardly on the inside of the con- (lensing chamber 10 from the bottom of said chamber, and has a depending upper pipe, tube or cap portion 21, which may be in the form of a downwardlyextending elbow or pipe portion. The open bottom portion or rim 22' of thecap 21 is located below th'e level of the upper extremity of the upright or upwardly extending tubular 1301111011 20,

and is, by I preference, connected with the upper extremity of the tubular portion by *moans of the imperforate wall, cap, or

elbow portion 23. I prefer to make the depending part 21 integral with the part 20' volatile fluid or liquid ammonia and contained within the condensing chamber 10. The curved tube or inner, conduit member ccmprislng the parts 20, 21, and 23, is thus i adapted to provide a liquid outlet passage,

and to cause a li uid seal for such JELSSGDG to be formed bv the liquid ammonia contained in the condensing chamber and filling the mouth or bottom opening 22 of the depending pipe or cup portion 21. The liquid ammonia is thus permitted to pass out through the liquid conduit or outlet thus formed, and it will be readily seen that the escape of volatile 'fluid in gaseous form is prevented by the liquid seal or sealed volatile liquid outlet passage thus provided, 7 and that the oil,the upper surface of which is at all times below the level of the opening 22, and below the volatile liquid or liquid ammonia in said chamber,will be arrested and retained within the'chamber 10 while the liquid ammonia is permitted to escape. The oil' thus separatedfrom and. collected beneath the volatile fluid or ammonia in said chamber is in cond tion to be drawn off, separately from the volatile fiuid, and returned to the crank casing of the compressor for -use as a lubricant A'pipe 26, secured to the bottom of the inner casing 12, forms a passage which leads from the interior tubular portion 20 and curved or sinuous liquid-sealed outlet passage, above described, and communicates, by

' preference, with the interior of a liquid receivin g space or chamber 18 of an expansion valve mechanism 19, with which said pipe 26 is adapted to be connected by suitabe connecting means, such as the pipe 28 or other suitable conduit connected with the pipe 26 and with the casing of the expansion valve device 19.

The pipe 26 and conduit-or pipe 28 thus form a continuous liquid pasage loading filed by me in the United States Patent Olicon December 23, 1915, for improvemears in refri erating apparatus. and expansion valve and oil separating mechanism therefor, and subject matter including mechanism and improvements herein described but not claimed per so will be found dc-"cr bed, illustrated and claimed in said application.

A pipe 55 leads from the corresponding outlet 39 in the upper portion of the expansion chamber 37 of the expansirn valve- 'mechanism 19, (see Fig. 1) and is connected and adapted to communicate with the interior and upper extremity of the expansion co l 5 alreadydescribed. The discharge end or bottom extremity of the coil 5 is connected and adapted to communicate with the receiving side and interior of the comrression chamber or piston chamber 2 of the compressor, by means of a pipe 8 already described.

A continuous passage adapted to contain volatile refrigerating fluid under pressure and in a liquid condition, and leading from the condenser to the expansion valve casing, is thus provided.

The expansion coil 5, and the liquid-containing or brine tank 6, in which said coil is located, is adapted to be placed in a compartment .56, which may be of any desired form or dimensions, suitable for containing articles to be cooled or maintained at a dcsircd temperature, said compartment being surrounded by inclosing walls 57.

A coc 58 of suitable form mounted upon the pipe 28 is adapted to be used when making repairs, or when desired to open and V ressurea e or indicator 59 is connected 2: g a a a with the return pipe 8 and adapted to indicate the degree of pressure on the low pressure side of the refrigerating system or apparatus; and a pressure-gage or indicator 60 is connected with the pipe 9 and adapted to indicate the degree of pressure on the high pressure side of the refrigerating system or apparatus.

The crank and pitman-containing chamber or casing 3 of the compressor is adapted to contain, and in practice is provided with a quantity of lubricating oil for lubricating the moving parts of the compressor, particularly the crank and pitman connections and the piston mechanism, all of which may be of any desired ordinary and well-known form, as already suggested; and an oil conduit, consisting of a pipe or tube 61, leads from the bottom of the interior condensing chamber 10 of the condenser, and communicates with the interior of the crank containing space or crank casing 3 of the condenser, and is provided with a cock 62 for opening and closing the passage formed by said pipe. The cock may be of any desired ordinary and well-known form, adapted to prevent the escape of oil or volatile fluid from the condensing chamber 10 through the pipe 61 when the cock is in passage closing position, and to permit the passage of oil from said condensing chamber into the crank casing 3 when the cock is open. The ammonia fluid in gaseous form, which is 'under pressure in the condensing chamber, tends to force oil from the bottom of said chamber into the crank casing when. the cock 62 is open.

The oil conduit in the form of a pipe 63 leads from the lower or oil containing portion 38 of the expansion chamber 37 in the expansion valve casing 19, and communicates with the interior of the crank containing chamber, or crank casing 3 of the compressor, and may be connected with the pipe 61, already described. A cock 64 is connected with said pipe 63, by preference, at a point somewhat below the level of the bottom of the expansion chamber 37, in the casing of the expansion valve 19.

A water supply pipe 65 is provided, which is adapted to be connected with a suitable source of water under pressure, and to form a water supply passage which is adapted to be opened and closed, or controlled by means of a cock 101. This pipe 65 extends through the head 16 of the outer casing of the condenser, and is connected with the receiving end of an inner cooling coil 66, located on the inside of the condensing chamber 10. The connection between the pipe 65 and the coil 66 may comprise or consist of any desired suitable form of pipe connection adapted to form a continuous passage leading through the pipe 65 and coil 66. The pipe and coil are connected, by preference, by means of a threaded boss 67, which is integral with the inner head 14 of the inner casing, and into which the upper end of the coil 66 is tightly fitted, anda threaded cap or bushing 68, which is mounted in threaded engagement with the boss 67 in position to inclose the upper open end of the coil 66, said cap or bushing 68 being provided with a passage 69 therethrough, and having an upper threaded end portion 70 in threaded engagement with the head 1601? the outer casing 11. The bushing or cap 68 thus forms a passage which connects or communicates with the passage formed by the water supply pipe 65, and the interior of the coil 66. The lower or discharge end of the coil 66 is, by preference, mounted in position to extend through the axial opening in the bottom head 15 of the inner casing 12, into which the end of the coil is tightly fitted in such position that the open bottom end of the coil communicates with the space or water jacket compartment 13 which entirely surrounds the inner casing 12 on all sides, and at top and bottom; said space being adapted to contain cooling water, which entirely surrounds the inner casing 12. The water containing coil 66 is entirely surrounded by the casing 12, and by the volatile tluid or fluid ammonia under pressure contained. in the chamber 10. The volatile fluid is thus subjected to the action of a coo-ling agent on both the inside and outside of the chamber 10.

A water pipe or conduit 71 has its upper extremity closely tted into an opening in the head 16 through which it extends, so as to form a water outlet passage leading from the interior or water containing space 13 within the outer casing 11 of the condenser, and which space surrounds the inner chamber 10; the opposite extremity of said pipe 71, being connected with. the outer casing or water jacket of the compressor cylinder 2, and adapted to communicate with the interior or water containing space of such water jacket.

A water outlet pipe 72 is connected with the outlet opening of the water jacket of the compressor cylinder 2.

The electric motor 77 is operatively connected with the compressor by suitable connecting means, such, for instance, as a belt pulley 78 on the driving shaft 79 of the motor, and a belt 80 connected with said pulley and with the driving wheel 81 of the compressor. Electric wires 82 and 86 connected with the opposite terminals of the motor are adapted to connect the motor with an electric switch and with a source of electric supply or a dynamonot shown. The condenser, the compressor and the .motor-and its actuating mechanism are all adapted to be mounted on the same base as shown; and the condenser is, by preference, so mounted with relation to the oil containing chamber or 011 reservoir formed by the crank casing 3 of the compressor, that the liquid-containing portion of the condensing Chamber and the top surface of the entire normal quantity of refrigerating fluid in liquid form contained in the condensing chamber when the apparatus in operating or in condition for operation, is normally below the level of the point at which the discharge opening ofthe pipe 61 leading from the condensing chamber 10 communicates with the interior of the crank casing. And'the point at which the oil pipe 61' communicates with the interior ofthe condensing chamber 10 is below the level the refrigerating fluid under pressure in the condensing chamber when the cock 62 is open, is thus permitted; and the passage of oil from the crank easing into the con- 'densing chamber 10 is prevented even though the cock 62 may be open. The tendencyof the refrigerating fluid to pass from the condensing chamber into the crank casing or oil reservoir through the oil pipe 61 is also reduced to a minimum and for the most part prevented, as will more fully appear. 7

I claim:

1; In a refrigerating apparatus of the class described, a condenser comprising in its construction an inner casing forming a condensing chamber having a gas inlet passage adapted to communicate with the copies of this patent may be obtained for compression chamber of a compressor, a refrigeratingliquid-outlet pipe having a liquid receiving opening communicating with the interior of said condensing chamher at a point above the level of the bottom of the condensing chamber, and adapted to contain refrigerating liquid for forming a liquid seal for said outlet pipe, an outer casing surrounding the inner casing and forming a water-compartment having inlet and outlet passages and adapted to contain water for cooling the condensing chamber, and a water-containing coil extending through said condensing chamber and adapted to be connected with a source of water supply.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus of the class described, a condenser comprising in its construction an inner casing forming a condensing chamber having a gas inlet passage adapted to communicate with the compression chamber of a compressor, a refrigerating-liquid-outlet pipe having a liquid-receiving opening communicating with the interior of said condensing chamher at a point above the level of the bottom of said chamber and adapted to contain refrigerating liquid for forming a liquid seal for said outlet pipe, an oil outlet pipe communicating with the lower interior portion of said condensing chamber at a point below the level of the liquid sealed opening of said refrigerating-liquid-outlet pipe, an outer casing surrounding the inner casing and forming a water-compartment having inlet and outlet passages and adapted to contain water for cooling the condensing chamber, and a water-containing coil extending through said condensing chamber and adapted to be connected with a source of water supply.

BENJAMIN S. MCCLELLAN.

Witnesses:

HARRY IRWIN CRoMER, W. HARDING.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

